This $3.29 ALDI Find Is So Good I Buy 6 at a Time

This ALDI find is a pantry staple that can be used to bulk up different dishes. I always have a few in my pantry and use it in a variety of ways.

Aldi Storefront — Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

Long before I became a chef, I learned how to manage food costs from my mom. She knew how to stock her pantry with versatile, useful foods, especially when they were on sale. When the budget was tight, she always had some dried beans or canned goods to build a meal for the family. Because of her, I know that having canned fish in the cupboard is always a smart move.

That’s why I stock up on ALDI’s Northern Catch Pink Salmon at only $3.29 for a 14.75-ounce can. It’s wild-caught Alaskan salmon, not farm-raised, and Alaskan waters are considered some of the cleanest. Salmon can be very expensive, so this is an affordable way to get it on the plate.

Northern Catch Wild Alaska Pink Salmon — Simply Recipes / Aldi

Why I Love ALDI’s Northern Catch Pink Salmon

The first thing I think to make with a can of fish is a salad for sandwiches, but don’t stop there. Adding salmon to scrambled eggs, frittatas, or quiche makes a hearty meal. Stirring it into mashed cream cheese creates a spread for bagels or a dip for vegetables. Tossing flaked salmon into pastas and cooked rice turns them into a full, protein-packed meal. And, of course, there’s adding it to a potato salad or pasta salad.

You’ll likely find some bones in your salmon. Just pick out the vertebrae and larger bones, but don’t worry too much about it; the little bones are soft and add calcium. It’s easy to pluck out the bits of skin, too, but it’s fine if a little stays behind—it’s all good food.

My Favorite Way to Serve This Salmon

I'm a big fan of salmon patties. The patties I like to make using this canned salmon are small and easy to eat like nuggets (with a dip) or stuff into a pita or hoagie. Go simple with honey mustard or Greek yogurt with garlic. You can make them larger, too.

For the most basic salmon patties, I mix half a cup of dry breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 1 minced scallion, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard, a few gratings of lemon zest, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stir in the salmon, mixing but not so much that it is completely mashed. Preheat the oven to 400°F and place a sheet pan in the oven to get hot. Meanwhile, scoop 1/4 cup portions and form into 3/4 inch thick patties. This makes about 10 patties.

Take out the hot pan, drizzle with oil, and quickly place the patties on the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then use a spatula to turn the patties and bake for 5 minutes longer, until lightly browned. Serve warm with your favorite dip or sauce.

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